Crews battle Awarua blaze
Firefighters from throughout Southland were last night battling a massive fire on conservation land at Awarua, south of Invercargill.
The fire was believed to have spread across 50 to 60 hectares between Awarua Bay and Waituna Lagoon, partially because of a strong wind, although conditions were easing last night.
Senior station officer Neil Ladbrook said three helicopters with monsoon buckets, Invercargill firefighters and dozens of rural firefighters were attacking the fire fromvarious flanks to try to prevent it from spreading further before dark.
‘‘They’re just trying to make the most of daylight at the moment but they’ll probably pull the pin and leave minimum crews overnight, because it sounds like it will be a couple of days involved [to put it out].’’
Fire crews were preparing for what was expected to be a long battle to put the fire out, with the difficult location making access a challenge.
While the cause of the blaze has not been confirmed, police had been called to the scene of the fire.
Senior Sergeant Dave Raynes confirmed officers were at the scene last night to investigate the cause.
Nearby landowner Reza AbdulJabbar said he first noticed the fire abut 5.30pm and raised the alarm.
He was initially concerned the fire would spread because of the wind direction, which had later changed.
He said the land was likely to burn up because it was so dry, and he expected it would take some time to to put out.
Another nearby landowner, Warren Owen, said the fire had spread along the shoreline of the Waituna Lagoon. He hoped it would not spread to his farmland but was concerned it would move into neighbouring reserve land.